(CBS DETROIT) - The mother of a Howell toddler who died after ... calling the incident an "unimaginably tragic event" and begged mercy from the judge, who was visibly emotional as he spoke.

Now Donna Major's family is left reeling through the holiday season, rattled by the news that the convicted criminal had been shown the mercy he refused ... I watched my mother be murdered.

She added that it had been a "very sad case" and described it as a "mercy killing ... "Call the police, I've just killed my mother." Essex Police said he "calmly remained inside the care home ...